Share this page:

Value Chain Development

Market Systems Development

The success of a value chain is determined by all the actors involved in the chain and by processes in the market. Actors in a market system are value chain in actors, such as producers and processors, but also (formal and informal) service providers, who bring in technical, business or financial services, and government institutions who set the rules and norms.  An efficient and effective collaboration between these actors is key to be able to respond to developments in the market.

Fair & Sustainable uses the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to make the market system more accessible, effective, sustainable and beneficial for small holder farmers. We believe that this systemic approach delivers the most durable results by addressing the underlying causes and constraints that hamper the development of a market system. It provides small holder farmers with the opportunity to build their own capacities and enhance their lives and brings about sustainable change in the entire market ecosystem.

F&S works with organisations and companies who (start to) use the MSD approach and supports them to translate this approach to programs and activities. We offer coaching, training, advice and evaluations to build the capacity of our partners to fully and effectively implement MSD programs

Recent Projects

MSD Training and Advice – CAFOD, 2022

Training staff of CAFOD country offices in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and DRC on the MSD approach, and advice on MSD implementation in programs.

Consultants: André Vording, Annelien Meerts, Oscar Geerts, Assegid Gedamu, Kris Woltering

Mid-Term Review of the LIWAY project – SNV Ethiopia, 2021

Review of the LI-WAY project, a MSD project that aims to create job opportunities for people in Addis Ababa.

Consultants: Annelien Meerts, Ben Haagsma, Inge Baaijens

MSD TOT training in the context of dairy value chain in pastoralist community – 2021

Training to equip consortium members with MSD skills and tools, and address knowledge gaps and attitudinal issues related to MSD.

Consultants: John Othini, Jarso Jaldessa, Abdissa Tegene

MSD advise on Jege ni Jaba Project – SNC Lavalin / Dutch Embassy Mali, 2014-2024

Advice, and monitoring implementation of MSD and the inclusion of women and youth in a project to develop onion and fish value chains in Mali .

Consultants: Jochem Schneemann, Annelien MeertsAndré VordingAngelica Senders

FARM program in DRC Mercy Corps, 2017-2021

Backstopping Value Chain Assessments and VC Development programming.

Consultants: Victor van der LindenAndré Vording, Somaya Moll, Bart de Bruyne

MSD advice on STARS program – ICCO/Mastercard Foundation, 2015 -2021

Improve acces to finance and markets for smallholders in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

Consultants: André VordingVictor van der Linden, Oscar Geerts,

Projects related to this service

STARS project

The STARS project used an MSD approach to improve access to finance and markets for more than 200,000 smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal and Burkina Faso.